Weighing apparatus



Sept. 29, 1925. f Y

y M. L. HEINEKE WEIGHING APPARATUS Fned 061526. 1921 3 sheets-snee@ 1 Fm. z.

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Sept-29, 1925.' M. L.. HEINEKE WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed oct. 26, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet :s

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Patente-d Sept. 29, 1925.

UNVED STATES PA'EENT OFFICE.

MARTIN L. HEINEKE, OF SPRNGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

Application filed Gctober 2S, 1321.

To @ZZ fwzozfn, t may concern:

Re it known that I, lvianriiv L. Hmnniin, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Springfield, county ot Sangamon, and citate ot illinois, have invented new and usetul improvements in fifeighing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in weighing apparatus, with especial reference to apparatus in which grain or similar material is to be weighed while in process ot delivery from a chute or conveyor spout.

The object ot this invention is to secure increased reliability and accuracy as compared with machines heretofore used for similar purposes.

instead of attempting to utilize the relative weights of full and empty hoppers to operate the gates or valves oit the weighing mechanism in accordance with the prevailing practice, this invention contemplates their operation from another source of mechanical power,-tor eXample,-trom the engine or motor which drives the threshing machine or elevator, in cases where the weighing apparatus is associated with such machinery.

rl`he invention further contemplates utilizing the movement of a loaded hopper, or hopper compartment, to not only tilt the scale beam ot the weighing apparatus, but

also to control the application of power to the gates, whereby they may be positively adjusted to the desired position within a predetermined interval of time, and in a cycle of operations, which, in its final stages, resets the mechanism preparatory to a successive loading operation, and then automatically comes to rest pending such 'further loading' operation.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grain elevator with my improved weighing apparatus applied thereto, portions ot the housing being broken away.

Figure 2 is an elevation oi' the same as viewed 'from the opposite or inner side.

Figure 3 is al plan view.

Figure at is an enlarged detailed view of the clutch and trip mechanism.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the upper portion ol the elevator, including the improved weighing mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional view drawn on line G-G on Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modiiied cured to the pivot shaft 13.

Serial No. 510,536.

torni o1 weighing mechanism embodying my invention in associated relation to the upper portion of the elevator.

Figure 8 is a plan view ot' the same.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of one end oi shatt 29 and the associated clutch member.

Lil-:e parts are identified by the same reterence characters thruout the several views.

The housing 1 eneloses ordinary grain elevating mechanism to a type commonly used to facilitate delivery of grain from a threshing machine or separator into sacks. The grain is lifted by the elevator buckets 2, which move with sutlicient speed to throw the grain into the outlet portion 3 of the housing.

lt will be observed that I have supported a hopper 5 from the portion 3 of the housing by scale beams 6 (one on each side) the latter being 'lulcrumed at 7 to the housing and the hopper being suspended 'from the short arm of the scale beam by bearing members 8.

The hopper is a duplex hopper, being subdivided into two compartments 9 and 1() by a vertical partition 11. A swinging gate 12 is pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the hopper, to swing from side to side on a pivot shaft 13 extending along the upper margin of the partition 11, whereby the grain may be deflected into either compartment. Vlhis gate 0r valve 12 may, for convenience in description, be termed the inlet gate ot the hopper. k

rlhe compartments 9 and 10 are provided at their lower ends with outlet gates 15 and 16. rlhese gates are pivoted to the front and rear hopper walls at 17 and 18 respectively, the arrangement being such that they swing upon axes parallel to the vertical plane occupied by the partition 11, and each gate is provided with exterior arms 2O and 21, connected by links 22 and 23 with an oscillatory plate or rocker member 211 se- The links 22 and 23 are connected with the plate 24 on opposite sides of the pivot shaft 13, whereby, when one of the gates 15, (or 16), is swung downwardly to 'full open position, the other gate will be closed. Therefore, inasmuch as the gate 12 and the plate 211 are rigidly connected with the shaft 13, an oscillation of shaft 13, sutlicient to reverse the position of the inlet gate 12 from that in which it is iliustrated in Figure 2 to a corresponding inclination `on vthe opposite side of the partition ll, will direct the Vflow of grain from hopper compartment l() into compartment 9. rl`he movement of plate 24 will simultaneously transmit motion thru the links 22 and u3 to close the gate l5 at the bottom of the compartment 9 and open gate i6 to al low compartment l() to empty.

l-owcr to oscillate shalt i3 as above described is derived from the shaft Q5 of the elevatorthru the pinion 2G, chain 27, sprocl'- et wheel 2S, the clutch mechanism hereinafter described, shaft'), gear wheels 3() and 3l, crank slotted link bar 3&3, and lever 3st, the latter being fast on the pivot shait 13. rlhe slot 37 in the link rod 33 allows a limited free movement ol lever the latter having a projecting stud loosely engaged in theislot 237. The upper end ol the lever is pivotally connected with a si inging guide rod having a compression spring l0 thereon seated between the collar ll on the rod and the fixed abutment or seating at the upper margin oll the hopper lV hen the lever swings toward a vertical position, the rod 39 slides thru the seating and the spring l0 is compressed until the lover 34- passes-the vertical line extending thru the pivotal axis o'l rod i3. The reaction oi the-spring then actuates lever 3l with ra quick positive movement, which cai ries the stud 38 to the opposite end oi slot 3? in link bar This quick throw under spring pressure insures the adjustment ont the gates totheir extreme reversed position and the reversal is accomplishedso quickly that no material quantity of grain will be permitted to escape thru the empty compartment, The inlet gate is-also reversed so quickly,7 that no material quantity of grain w`ll be'delivercd into the lled compartment alter the scale beam'has been tilted by the weight of fthe in such compartment.

Each compartment is preferably provider with an m'erhanging ledge i9 along-the upier margins of the hopper to catch rebounding grain and prevent it from scattering.

l have discovered that nearly all grain scattering from an open topped hopper on rebound, )asses close to the wall margin on the opposite side rom'the `point of entry and ithatzthe ledge 49, projecting inwardly but a short distance, will almost `wholly prevent the grainfrom .bounding out of the hopper.

The clutch mechanism.

T ie vapplication of power to reverse the position of the'gates is controlled by a suitable automatic clutch, normally retracted, but released for operation by the hopper 5 when theweight of the grain in one ot the compartments is sufficient to tilt the scale beam G. ln the construction illustrated, the sprocket wheel 28 is no mally loose on the shaft 29 and a ratchet wheel 50 is secured to the sprocket wheel and is there'lore in constant rotation vhen the elevator is in operation.

ik bracket ol is secured to the shaft 29, and a clutch dog 53 is carried by a lever 5l pivotod to the bracket at 55, whereby the dog :lmay be utilized to couple the sprocket wheel. and ratchet to the shaft 29, A spring coiled about stud 5T, has one end 58 loosely engagec'r with clutch dog 53 to urge it in the direction et' ratchet 50, but the other end oit the lever is utilized to hold the clutch dog out of such engagement when bearing `upon the upper end of the bell crank trip (30. rl'he short arm oit the latter is pivoted to the hopper at Gl and when the hopper is loaded suliiciently to overcome the lifting eilect of the weights (32 on the scale beams the trip will be retracted from the lever 5l and the clutch dog will automatically enratohet 5l), thereby coupling sprocket wheel 28 to the shaft 29 as above stated. '.i`he latter will then periorm one revolution, during 'the lirst half of which the loaded hopper compartment will be emptied and the trip returned to a position in which will be reengaged by lever 5l to retract the clutch dog against the tension ot spring A spring pressed detent ($5 simultaneously eneages a stud 6G on the bracket 5l to positively stop the rotation or' shaft 29, and prevent a relative backward rotation due to the `reaction of spring lt will be observed in Figure 2 that gear wheel 3l is twice the diameter ot' the gear wheel Si) on shaft29. rlChei-e'liore the single turn oiI shalt 2S) will rotate gear wheel 3l and crank acne halt turn. luring the first quarter of turn ol' the crank S2 the position et the gates Lwill be reversed. The reaction ot spring 40 in completing the reversal with a quick positive throw, leaves the le fer Sil with an inclination reversed from that in which it is shown in Figure 2 and with the stud 38 at about the middle 0i' the slot 37 when the crank -licompletes its first quarter turn. rlhe second quarter turn of the crank retracts the link bar sulficiently to engage the stud at the outer end ol the slot where it will be effectively actuated when the crank commences the next hall' turn n'iovement.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 it will be observed that myinvention is therein illustrated as applied to an` oscillatory hopper 5, in which the upper portion oli the partition ll:l serves also as aninlet gate to direct the grain into one compartment `and thon into the other when the hopper is osciilatefl.

rlhe hopper is suspended lrom the scale beams by hangers to which the hopper is pivoted at 7l, preferably below its center. The outlet gates l5 and 1G are pivotally supported by thevha-nger arms TQ and T8 respectively and the gate operating links 22a and 23 are pivotally connected with one end of the hopper at 74 and 7 5 respectively. The slotted link bar 33a operates directly upon the hopper to oscillate the latter, the hopper having a stud 38a on its end wall, which engages in the link bar slot 3m. A bracket 7 8, connected with one ot the hanger arms 72, is utilized to operate the bell crank trip a. The arms 79 and cross rods 80 are employed for reinforcement ot the gates, the latter being formed of sheet metal. The hopper shown in Figures 7 and 8 is preferably of a generally cylindrical form, its walls being preferably notched at 8l to accommodate the cross rods 82 which connect the hanger arms 72 and 73. The eccentric position oif the hopper makes this desirable and the notches may also allow the cross rods S2 to serve as stops to positively check the tilting movement oit' the hopper independently of the link bar 33a. The operating mechanism, and all other parts not specilically described with reference to this modified form, may be assumed to be the same as those described with reference to Figures l to 6 inclusive.

I claim:

l. The combination with a hopper provided with inlet and outlet gates, means for supplying material to the hopper, and connections between said gates and material supplying means, of means controlled by the load in the hopper for causing the material supplying means to initiate movement ot the hopper inlet and outlet gates, and supplemental means adapted to complete movement of said gates toward open or closed position by a quick positive action.

2. The combination with a hopper provided with inlet and outlet gates, means for supplying material to the hopper, and Aconnections between said gates and material supplying means, ot means controlled by the load in the hopper for causing the material supplying means to initiate movement ot the inlet and outlet gates, and spring impelled means for completing movement ot the gates toward open or closed position.

The combination with a hopper provided with inlet and outlet gates, means tor supplying material to the hopper, and connections between said gates and material supplying means, of means controlled by the load in the hopper for causing the material supplying means to initiate movement ot the inlet and outlet gates, and a spring adapted to have power stored therein during such initial movement of the gates and to eliect completion oi' said movement toward open or closed position.

fl. The combination with a hopper provided with inlet and outlet gates, means for supplying material to the hopper, and connections between said gates and material supplying means, oi means controlled by the load in the hopper for causing the material supplying means to initiate movement ot the inlet and outlet gates, and a spring arranged to be placed under compression during such initial movement ot the gates and to etl'ect completion of such movement toward open or closed position.

5. In a Weighing mechanism oi the described class, the combination with a hopper provided with outlet gates, a member adapted for constant rotation, a one turn member adapted tor intermittent single rotations with intervening periods of dwell, a third member driven thereby in step by step halt turn movements, connections between said third member and the gates for opening and closing the gates invalteration, and means controlled by the load in the hopper for connecting the constantly rotating member with the one turn member tor a single rotation when the load equals a predetermined limit.

G. In a weighing mechanism, the combination with a hopper rovided with gates allowing 'for alternate lling and discharging operations, ot a gate operating member adapted to rotate step by step in half turn movements, operating connections between said member and the gates, adapted to initiate movement to open and close the hopper gates in alternation, and auxiliary means for imparting a quick free throw to said gates during their tinal opening or closing movement.

7. In a weighing mechanism the combination with a compartment hopper provided with gates allowing for alternate lilling and discharging operations, of a reversible toggle mechanism Jfor operating the gates, a spring adapted to resist alinements of the toggle members, and by its recoil to throw it outof alinement in either direction, said toggle including an operating lever, a rotary toggle actuating member means, controlled by the hopper load driving the member step by step in half turn movements, and a slotted link connecting the rotary member with the toggle and adapted to positively urge the toggle members across their position ot alinement while allowing them to freely move in the same direction under the recoil of the spring after crossing said alinement.

8. ln a weighing mechanism of the class described, the combination with a compartment hopper provided with outlet gates, a spring actuated reversible toggle mechanism tor holding the gates alternately in open and closed positions, power driven crank mechanism tor reversing the toggle mechanism to close one gate and open another, and load controlled means for causing the crank mechanism to operate step by step.

9. The combination ot a weighing mechanism provided with a load receiving hopllO per",` gates controlling the inlet and outlet" operatively connected for rotation at di'tl'efof the hopper, a constantly rotating power wheel, a shaft connected to 'actuate both 'thevv inlet and outlet gates, a clutch, means con'- trolled by the load in the hopper for causing the clutch `to connect said shaft to the power wheel7 and a springl cooperating withthe sha'lt to supplement the' power'of the wheel.

l0. The combination with a weighing mechanism provided with a load receiving hopper, of power driven means for feeding material to the hopper, gates for said hopper, clutch mechanism associated with said power driven means, clutch tripping mechanism adapted to be operated by said hopper, rotary mechanism driven through said clutch mechanism for actuating said gates to open and closed positions, said rotary means being adapted for half` turn movements and to actuate said gates f luring a quarter turn thereof, and spring actuated toggle mechanism for completing the movement of said gates independently ot said rotary" means, whereby a period of dwell may be obtained during which the hopper may be emptied" and the clutch tripping mechanism returned toits clutch disengaging position.

l1. In a weighing mechanism haring a hopper provided with' plural compartments, each havinganoutlet gate, the combination with such gates ot' two rotary members entsp'eed's, meansf'for utilizing the weight' ot a loaded hopper compartment to etfectia driving connection'of the more rapidly rotating anember Witha so'rceof power Jor a predetermined movement, and means for utilizing the more"sl`owl`y rotating member to operate said gatesfalternately in opposite directions.'

l2. In a weighing mechanism having'a hopper `providedy withl plural compartments, each having an outlet gate, the combination with such gates, or' two rotary members operatively connectedl forrotation at different speeds, means for utilizingr the weight ot a loaded hopper compartment to effect a driving connectionlof the more rapidly rotating member with a 'source oi' power for a predetermined Inovement', and means for utilizingl the more slowly rotating member to operate said gates alternately in opposite directions, the parts being-*so relatedy that one gate will be completely: opened and the other gate completely 'closed prior to the completion of a movement' oiV the more slowly rotating member,v wherebyl the hopper is allowed to emptiyl and return tor a position 'for disconnecting the driving connections betorethe' tmore rapidlymoving rotary meniber has completed itspredeterinined` movement.

MARTN L. HEINEKE. 

